Imitation fireplace



Jan. 12, STAUDE IMITATION FIREPLACE Filed Nov. 18 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l 6 2 r, B 7 a 8 2 II II 7/ W 6 9 w m I F LA 2 5 m 1 M Z Q/ 2 y u 6 WW Z Z A m m L m Wu o. f? E Em m M Jan.. 12, 1932'. E. STAUDE IMITATION FIREPLACE Filed Nov. 18 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 avwento'c 7 EE/CH STHUDE 335 3 a) Gite Imus Patented Jan. 12, 1932 "PATENT OFFICE ERICK STAUDE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK IMITATION FIREPLACE Application filed November 18, 1929. Serial No. 408,090.

This invention relates to imitation fireplaces and in particular to one which closely simulates logs which have become partly burned and through the hollow portions of '5 which may be seen what appears to be the glowing embers or burning of the interior of the logs. r v

A further object of my invention is to provide a log for use in connection with my in- 1 vention which has a natural appearance,

which appears to be charred in different places and which is ornamented to give the appearance of a birch or other log.

* A still further object of my invention is to 15 provide a device of the character referred to which will be natural in appearance and will have incorporated therein features which tend toproduce the burning effect of the wood by reflection of light which is caused to flicker 20 through the medium of a flicker fan intercepting the rays of light asfthey strike the painted interior surface of a burnt out log.

A further object of my invention is to produce a piece of log which will be natural in appearance, which will have'burnt out portions and which will be particularly adapted to fit about a frame to give the desired effect. With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description 39 proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement "of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, itbeing understood that changes in the, precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of whatis claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

' In the accompanying drawings: I Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a fireplace constructed in accordance with my invention, the frame being illustrated upon which ismounted the imitation logs which produce thedesired efiect.

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure land shows the relative arrangements-of the parts. v Figure 3 is an enlarged cross section taken through a log and embodying one method of constructing the log. l

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of a piece of a log constructed in accordance with my invention, the same being partly uncovered to disclose the wire mesh frame around which the material is Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the bottom plate of the frame showing the light openings therein through which the rays of light project to strike the bottom of the fireplace in spaced relation with which the frame may be mounted, and

Figure 6 is a section similar to the section illustrated in Figure 3 showing the preferred method of producing an imitation log for use in connection with my fireplace.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 5 indicates a frame'which is made of strip metal and is composed of the end members 6 which are secured to a bottom plate 7, the bottom plate being illustrated in Figure 5 and being provided with irregularly shaped openings 8 to be hereinafter termed light openings. The end pieces 6 may be of any particular shape but in this instance I have inclined the front 9 thereof so that a plurality of imitation log members 1.0 may be placed thereon, the lowermost member 10 being secured through the medium of the bolts 11 to the frame members 6, while the next adjacent upper piece is not secured and may be readily removed from the frame in order to facilitate the change of light bulbs or adjustment of the parts.

The side members 6 are arranged to support a vertical strap 12 upon which is mounted an electric light socket 13, the bulb being indicated by the numeral 14 and being colored to produce a flame colored light. The strap 12 also supports an arm 15 on the upturned end of which is loosely supported for free rotation, the flicker fan 16. a This flicker fan is disposed over the light bulb and is operated by the heated air above the bulb so that its rapid rotation causes a flicker of the light rays that emanate from the bulb and thereby produce the dancing effect of a light flame.

The bottom 7 may be made from sheet metal and may be secured as by the screws or rivets 17 to the frame 5. These frames may be joined together, if desired, but being of placed which completes the M 18 which are cast from a suitable material that is used in the manufacture of the log and whose composition will be hereinafter described, the end pieces 18 being made to conform in shape to the end members 6 of the frame and being cast toprovide log end ex tensions 19 which are made in simulation of the projecting ends of-logs as they might appear when one log is piled upon another.

The top 20 of the frame is arranged to support a log 21 which, in a plurality of places 22 provides a crack opening through which may be seen the ends of rear logs which ap parently have broken and fallen down at their center, these logs being indicated by the numerals 23 and being secured to the frame .made'of a wire mesh frame 29 wh1ch may be end pieces 6 through the medium of suitable bolts, this method of securing being also employedin connection with the logs 21.. The open sections 22 of the logs 21 are arranged to bepainted interiorly as at 2% with a cop? per gilt'and the surface that is gilted being rough, will produce high lights in thecopper gilt and will reflect the flame colored light emitting from the bulb, which,when flickered by the fan, will-produce the effect of a burning ember or burning interior wall of the log, thereby producing-a beautiful effect and one which is extremely natural. 8 The outer surface of the log'and also parts of the interior of the-openings 2201? the log 21, may

be blackened to imitate charred or scorched portions.

V In order thatthe oifect of ashes may be produced which appear to be aglow, there is formed on the base plate 7, a pile 25 of the compositionfrom which the logs are con- .structed and this pile is also painted with a copper gilt 'or with a copper paint, the reflecting qualities of which are high so that the same efi'ect will be produced on the pile of material 25 thatis produced on the in terior surface 24 of the log 21 and as viewed through the openings 22 in the log 21, it appears that the ends of the logs 23 that have broken down or burnt through have formed a pile of ashes and this pile is aglow.

I I Iamaware thatiron logs have been placed upon a frame in various arrangements but it w ll be noted that inmy particular construction it is possiblefor the burning effect to'be seen directly by the eye,-thatis, in the interior or cut out portions 22 of the log 21. one sees the inside of the log apparently burningat a red heat which is produced by the copper gilt on the inner walls of the openings 22 but looking through the opening, the pile of ashes 25 may be seen which acts as a reflecting medium for the light produced in the bulbslt. Also,this pile of ashes being gilded, reflects the light behind the log '21 and out between the logs 22 where they rest on this pile of ashes and the base plate 7 being held in spaced relation with the bottom of a fireplace will permit the light to shine through the openings 8 and produce ashadow or burning. effect in the bottom of the fireplace, the light shining through the logs 22 being reflected against the back of the fire place While the light rays that are directed forwardly, emit through the openings 22 of the log 21 and through the openings 26 which areformed in the'knot 27 provided on the exterior surface of all of the logs, as desired. 'Inorder that the end pieces 18 may be held in position,use may. be made of clips 28 which are turned up from the side pieces 6 of the frame 5,,although any method may be employed for securing the end pieces 18 into position on the frame. 7

In one form of the log making, use may be bent-into any position desired and may be coated exteriorly as at 30 with the substance vwhichhardens and which forms the log memframe are also coveredwith this material both inside and out with the result that when the substance has set, it is' tough, hard,may be easily handled without breaking and during its congealing or setting, may be decorated in amanner to be described, the steps in the formation ofthe logs or the-making of the wire mesh frame to any shape desired and this includes the punching of holes therein'where openings are to be made in theimi- .tation logs to represent a place where the log has burned through. p

iv The second step is the making of the composition of material as abovedejscribed and smearing the sameon the inside and outside and ends of themesh frame. Afterthis has been done and immediately after the covering has been completed, the hole is painted with a thinned compound of the material that has been used in making up thecovering. After this has been accomplished, spark markings indicated by the numeral 34 are provided in the outer surface and ends of the log by dipping the edge of a trowel or other sharp instrument into a dark brown paint and then cutting the markings in the surface so that the paint is thoroughly imbedded and .does not'rub off and at the same'time gives a true imitation bark marking and as shown in Figure 4 and in Figure 1, the bark marking is made in simulation of a birch log in which the markings extend peripherally of the log.

The next step in the operation of completing the imitation log is the dusting of portions thereof to represent char with a powder made from magnesite and lamp black, it being understood that 'magnesite will settle into the surface of the soft compound that has not yet hardened and when it does harden, it will firmly gripthe magnesite and lamp black dust and prevent it from being brushed off when the whole device is cleaned by dusting, etc. After the imitation log has hardened, it is then ready to be placed on the frame and is done so through the medium of the holding members, before referred to.

In shaping the material on the outside of the wire mesh frame, the knot .holes 27 are molded with a central opening 26, before referred to.

It will be noted that the openings 8 in the bottom plate 7 are of irregular shape so that the light passing therethrough will have a natural shadow effect on the floor or bottom of the fireplace in which the logs are disposed. Any device may be formed on the end closure pieces 18 and while I have shown the butt ends of logs 19, as these would be the natural positions of the logs in use, I may shape these ends in simulation of any other portion of the log desired in order to give a natural effect.

It is evident, therefore, that I have provided a fireplace in simulation of the real log burning fireplace in which the logs are so placed that they appear to have been burnt through and fallen down or have burnt through in certain soft parts and show the inside charred wall as naturally as the same would appear in actual logs that are in the process of being consumed by fire. Also, I have provided a fireplace which is life-like, which enhances the appearance of a room in which it is placed and which is inexpensive to manufacture and produces the desired effeet in a striking manner.

It is evident also that I have provided a fireplace in which material has been used in the bottom to produce a pile of ashes which, being painted, reflect the light and being painted with a particular composition of paint and being of roughened formation, produces a glowing ember effect which enhances the appearance of the fireplace and produces the desired effect.

While I have illustrated and described my invention with some degree of particularity, I realize that in practice various alterations therein may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is v 1. A fireplace comprising a frame, having a sloping front portion, a plurality of members simulating logs mounted across said frame, one of which has openings therein representing burnt out portions, a bottom plate in the frame, a mound simulating ashes on the plate visible through said openings and gilded to reflect light, lights hidden by the logs, and a flicker device associated with said lights.

2. A fireplace comprising a frame, a plurality of members simulating logs mounted across said frame, one of which has openings therein representing burnt out portions, the inner wall of said portions being painted to provide a light reflecting medium, a bottom plate in the frame, a mound simulating ashes on the plate and visible through said opening and gilded to reflect light, lights hidden by the logs, and a flicker device associated with said lights.

3. A fireplace comprising a frame, a plurality of members simulating logs mounted across said frame, one of which has openings therein representing burnt out portions, the inner wall of said portions being painted to provide a light reflecting medium, a bottom plate in the frame, a mound simulating ashes on the plate and visible through said openings and gilded to reflect light, lights hidden by the logs, a flicker device associated with said light, closures for the sides of said frame, and said closures being made in simulation of the ends of logs.

4. A fireplace comprising a frame, a plurality of members simulating logs extending across said frame, one of which has openings therein representing burnt out portions, the inner wall of said portions being painted to provide a light reflecting medium, a bottom plate in the frame, a mound simulating ashes on the plate and visible through said opening and gilded to reflect light, lights hidden by the logs, a flicker device associated with said lights, closures for the sides of said frame, said closures being made in simulation of the ends of logs, a plurality of members representing log ends supported at one end by the frame and engaging the mound at the other end in simulation of logs burned through.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 15th day of November, 1929.

ERICH STAUDE. [L. s] 

